Funk wouldn’t be funk without alto-saxophonist Maceo Parker and he is about to hit Gauteng. On the 8 and 9 of May 2015 Parker will demonstrate why he has the hottest chops in funk and a long list of big name collaborations.
Parker perfected his sound as sideman to James Brown. He joined the James Brown band in the 1960s and played with them for over a decade. His signature sound led, in part, to the band being recognised as early pioneers of modern day funk and hip-hop.

Constantly redefining his style, Parker has continued to live the spirit of funk. He joined George Clinton’s P-Funk ‘Mothership’, followed by stints with a number of other groups, becoming a golden thread that linked the style. In 1990 Parker embarked on a solo career and while funk still defined his style, his music became richly nuanced with the sounds of jazz and soul. His first solo album Roots Revisited spent 10 weeks at the top of Billboard’s Jazz Charts in 1990, followed by a number of successful albums. Albums like Funk Overload, Dial M-A-C-E-O and Made by Maceo cemented his catch phrase “2% Jazz, 98% Funky Stuff” with his audiences.To date he has collaborated with Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, Prince, De La Soul, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Parker will be joined by the remarkable talent of Greg Boyer on trombone, Will Boulware on keys, Bruno Speight on Guitar, Rodney “Skeet” Curtis on bass, Tony Mason on drums and Martha High and Darlene Parker on vocals.

The youth band Nu-Notes will be opening for Parker at both performances. The Nu Notes is a group of young talented jazz musicians all part of the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra programme that aims to develop young South African musicians, through music education and skills development.

Parker will be performing on the 08 May at the Brooklyn Theatre, Pretoria and 09 May at the Wits Theatre, Johannesburg. The concert starts at 20h00 and tickets cost R180.

Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/858494357529974/